1. Recycling in Union County

Local recycling is one of the most effective ways that everyone who lives or works in Union County can help conserve natural resources, and help control waste disposal costs. If you’ve been looking for a good place to start reducing your carbon footprint, this is it.

GO GREEN: Participate fully in your town’s recycling program.

Green Note: Mixed paper means “anything that rips.” Your mixed paper recycling can include a wide variety of paper products, including clean, dry food packages and beverage cartons, packaging for all sorts of toys and other products (remove any plastic panels first), gift wrap, party decorations, and school papers, as well as junk mail and magazines.

Cool Green Tip: Some Union County municipalities recycle more than the required materials listed above. Plastic toys, shoes, and clothing are just a few examples. To get more information about your local recycling program, click here.

Green Note for Commercial/Industrial/Business:

Click here: www.ucnj.org/recycle/UCMarketsDirectory2007.pdf to view the Union County Recycling Markets Directory. The Directory lists contact info for recyclers that handle manufacturing and construction waste, and many other kinds of business-related waste.

To find out how your business can cuts costs by reducing the amount of solid waste it generates, call the NJ Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 609-984-3438, and ask about joining the New Jersey WasteWise Business Network.

2. Household Hazardous Waste disposal and recycling services sponsored by Union County

Homes generate a startling amount of toxic waste, including consumer electronics, batteries, used motor oil, spent oil filters, and automobile tires. Oil-based paint and other do-it-yourself home improvement products also contain hazardous materials.

GO GREEN: Dispose of all household hazardous waste through your municipal and Union County recycling programs.

Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle/index.html for information on free household hazardous waste disposal and recycling programs sponsored by Union County. Collection events are scheduled throughout the spring and summer. Hazardous household wastes include:

Collection events also include home electronics and automobile tires (maximum of 8 per household). Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle/index.html for more information.

Green Note: Union County also sponsors a FREE, secure shredding service to dispose of personal and confidential papers. Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle/index.html for more information (residential only).

Schools: Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle/index.html to find out how your school building can participate in Union County’s school laboratory cleanout program.

3. Safe Disposal of Special Household Wastes

Medications, latex paint, and smoke detectors require special handling in order to reduce harmful effects on the environment.

Go Green: Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle/index.html to learn more about safe disposal practices for medications, latex paint, and smoke detectors.

4. More ways to Re-use and “Freecycle”

You can get more mileage out of throwaways by putting them to one last use before they leave your home or workplace – or by finding a new use for them.

Donating to charity, holding a garage sale, or swapping with neighbors are tried-and-true ways to reuse things that you no longer need. Here are three more things to try [Note: the following links will navigate you out of the UCNJ web site]:

The Fanwood Recycling Association. This nonprofit organization accepts a wide range of items for recycling from Union County households, including books, textiles, and aluminum doors. For more information, visit www.visitfanwood.com/recycling.

Freecycle. Freecycle is a free online service run by a nonprofit organization. It lets you link up online with nearby residents to give away (and get!) usable furniture, toys, tools, and other throwaways in good condition. Visit www.freecycle.org for more information.

Composting. Food scraps account for a huge chunk of household waste. Composting is a convenient way to convert these valuable nutrients into a free, highly effective soil booster for your yard and garden. You’ll save money on fertilizer, while helping to keep your town’s solid waste disposal costs down.

To get basic information on composting from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, click here. For many more details, visit www.epa.gov/compost and click on the “Frequent Questions” link.

Cool green tip: Basic composting is easy! Just choose an out-of-the-way spot in your yard and start making a pile. From your kitchen, add fruit and vegetable scraps or leftovers (bread, pasta, etc.). Don’t use meat, fish, dairy, eggs or grease. Every time you put kitchen scraps on the pile, add a little water and cover with a layer of leaves or other yard clippings. The inside of the pile should be moist like a damp sponge, not dripping wet. When the bottom of the pile looks like dark, crumbly soil, dig it out and use it in your garden.

The basic process takes about a year. You can speed it to just a few months by turning the pile over once or twice a week with a pitchfork, or by using a bin or tub to contain the pile.

5. REDUCE your garbage footprint

You can help stop the garbage problem before it starts, by choosing your purchases with their full lifespan in mind. Look for sturdy, durable items that can be reused or recycled when you no longer need them. If you must buy disposables, look for products made of natural materials that biodegrade quickly and safely.

In addition to the recycling and reusing tips above, here are ten more ways to reduce your “garbage footprint:”

1. Bring canvas totes when shopping, instead of taking disposable plastic or paper bags from stores.
2. Use refillable bottles instead of buying water in disposable bottles.
3. Buy in bulk when possible, to reduce throwaway packaging.
4. When available, choose products that come in less packaging. Avoid products that come in Styrofoam and other non-recyclable materials.
5. Use washable containers to store food, instead of buying disposable plastic wrap and plastic bags.
6. Buy a few sets of inexpensive, washable tableware for entertaining guests, instead of using disposable tableware.
7. For parties and holiday celebrations, choose durable decorations that can be stored and reused. Avoid plastic confetti and other decorations that can’t be reused or recycled.
8. Instead of paper napkins and towels, buy a few sets of inexpensive cloth napkins and dish towels for everyday use (use dark-colored towels for cleaning up spills and greasy surfaces).
9. For young children: Borrow or thrift-shop for ride-on toys and other large items that children quickly grow out of, then pass them along or donate to charity.
10. When choosing (or requesting!) gifts, focus on small, durable items instead of large objects that can wear or break easily. Other low-impact gift ideas are:
1. Gift cards for a local activity, such as movie tickets, dinner out, or an art or dance class.
2. Food or beverages, especially if they are locally produced.
3. Small handcrafted items, especially if they are made by local artisans. You can stock up at local craft and art fairs.

“Green” gifts that help reduce wasteful throwaways, such as stylish reusable tote bags, travel mugs, or refillable water bottles.